They is perhaps on totally different continents, however these two center japanese nations promise the vacation of a lifetime – if solely you would determine which one to go to.
You’ve chosen the final neighborhood of your vacation however now it’s time to choose between Egypt and Jordan, besides, how does one truly try this? You’ve acquired Egypt, filled with pyramids and Sphinxes. And Jordan with its breathtaking metropolis of Petra and magical Wadi Rum desert. Then Egypt has the Nile River and the Sahara Desert. However Jordan has the mineral-rich Lifeless Sea and its beneficiant Bedouin hospitality.
I get it; it’s very overwhelming. Each nations have extra world-heritage listed websites (learn: must-see locations) than they’ve any proper to and each function in your bucket listing someplace (in all probability close to the highest). So, this choice might be a troublesome one. The perfect half? You gained’t must make it alone.
I’ve put collectively this weblog evaluating each nations’ cities, delicacies, landscapes and climate within the hopes that you just’ll know precisely the place to go as soon as the final syllables have left your mouth (does anybody learn aloud anymore?) or as soon as your eyes have scanned the final phrase. Fingers crossed anyway.
Uncover our Egypt & Jordan journeys
Delicacies
A visit to Egypt isn’t full with no go to to the pyramids…or devouring a bowl of kushari, a mix of rice, spaghetti, macaroni and lentils in a tomato-y, vinegar-y sauce. In truth, there’s loads of scrumptious delicacies you will need to strive in your travels to Egypt if you wish to say you’ve absolutely skilled this historical monument-filled nation.
With a concentrate on beans, legumes, lentils and greens (equipped by Egypt’s wealthy river areas), Egyptian delicacies attracts on flavours from neigbouring center japanese nations whereas additionally retaining its vibrant historical past – some dishes have roots that date way back to 2500BC. Some menu gadgets to look out for embody ful medames (fava beans), ta’meya (felafel kind chickpea ball) and mulukhiya (a cooked vegetable dish).
Jordanian delicacies won’t be as effectively often known as Italian or Chinese language, but it surely’s nonetheless no much less mouthwatering with Levantine flavours bursting out of meals corresponding to falafel and shish kebabs (Jordan’s model of meatballs). Influenced by their center japanese neighbours (Palestine, Lebanon and Syria), conventional meals normally include elements like olive oil (which is smart as one of many world’s largest producers), lemon, garlic, onion and an array of herbs.
In case you’re travelling to the Wadi Rum Desert (which needs to be everybody), you’ll additionally get a glimpse into what a typical Jordanian barbeque appears like – assume meat and greens being slow-cooked over scorching coals underneath the sand. It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime eating expertise, particularly because you get to take a seat again and watch your hosts uncover the feast as stars refill the night time sky.
RELATED: WHAT TO EAT IN JORDAN
Landscapes
On the subject of magnificent landscapes, Egypt has loads. There’s Abu Simbel with its spectacular hand-carved buildings and memorable interiors. There’s Luxor, or because it’s extra affectionately identified, “Egypt’s open-air museum”. After which there’s the Nile River the place a standard felucca boat awaits to take you on an unforgettable crusing journey. Oh, and the pyramids of Giza.
Consisting of the Nice Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure and the Nice Sphinx, this mind-blowing advanced was constructed within the fourth dynasty of the Previous Kingdom of historical Egypt someplace between 2600 and 2500BC. My mind actually can’t comprehend how way back that was. Make your manner across the advanced with an knowledgeable native information and hearken to your very personal on-site historical past lesson whereas discovering the secrets and techniques of this fascinating civilisation.
Floating within the salt-ridden Lifeless Sea and watching the celebs twinkle over the Wadi Rum desert is perhaps cool and the whole lot however normally when you’re travelling to Jordan, you need to see Petra in all of its spectacular glory. As soon as the ancestral capital of the thriving Arabian Nabataean civilisation, this sandstone-carved metropolis is now a surprise of the world because of its well-known archeological monuments. Discover the advanced by yourself and with a neighborhood information to take advantage of out of this bucket listing expertise.
However Jordan affords loads extra the place that got here from. In case you’re after a change of surroundings, head to Jordan’s backcountry searching for Mujib Nature Reserve and its winding river valleys and dusty gorges. Or, if that nature reserve didn’t tickle your adventure-loving fancy, try Dana Nature Reserve for its chiseled peaks and a uncommon perception into the life of the people who stay there.
Cities
Whilst you may come to Egypt for the pyramids, most travellers keep for the difficult to navigate however oh-so-worth-it streets of Cairo, the luxurious and trendy but history-laden metropolis of Luxor, the palm tree packed Aswan sitting on the banks of the Nile and the as soon as wonderful however nonetheless lovely coastal metropolis of Alexandria.
On an Egypt tour with Intrepid, go to the Khan al-Khalili bazaar because the solar units and get accustomed to every day life by talking to native retailers and winding via the souk’s walkways in Cairo. Marvel on the unfinished obelisk and the Excessive Dam earlier than becoming a member of a Nubian household for dinner in Aswan. Attempt to soak up the majesty of Luxor’s Valley of the Kings and spot the reminders of the as soon as mighty Pharaohs in every single place you look. By way of metropolis drawcards, this nation has loads to supply.
It would seem like Egypt’s acquired this class within the bag, however Jordan additionally has its personal justifiable share of concrete jungles to discover. From Jerash with its historical temples, plazas and theatres to Al-Karak with its fascinating museums and the Citadel of Kerak, there’s tons to maintain you busy when you’re travelling across the nation, both on a small group tour or by yourself.
However this nation’s glowing jewel is Amman, Jordan’s capital metropolis. Crammed with archaeological websites and calm neighbourhoods the place you possibly can cease for a second and soak up the fantastic thing about this contemporary metropolis, Amman is a must-visit vacation spot for each history-lover and avid traveller. Try the town’s crumbling citadel and the stylish promenade of Rainbow Road with its fashionable rooftop bars and streetside cafes.
Climate
Egypt enjoys an arid desert local weather that means that temperatures are unlikely to fall beneath freezing throughout the day (however will attain lows of -10°C as soon as the solar units) and rainfall is minimal all year long. This makes Egypt among the best locations for year-round journey – so long as you deliver layers for these chilly winter nights.
The preferred time to go to Egypt is between November and February when the temperatures are at their coolest however Cairo and varied areas alongside the Nile may expertise some rainfall throughout this time.
The summer time months of June, July and August see temperatures soar to sweat-inducing highs of 51°C so if you wish to journey comfortably, strive doing so within the shoulder seasons of spring (March – Might) or autumn (September – November) when temperatures are decrease however there’s nonetheless loads of sunshine.
Jordan’s local weather is just like that of Egypt’s with the center japanese nation experiencing principally subtropical arid climate patterns. Nevertheless, there are distinct local weather zones inside the nation, starting from Mediterranean within the west to abandon within the east and south. This results in wildly totally different temperatures all through the seasons with eye-watering highs skilled alongside the Lifeless Coastline in June, July and August and freezing lows in desert areas throughout winter.
The perfect time to go to Jordan is throughout spring and autumn when temperatures are at their most snug and rainfall is minimal, however with optimum climate circumstances comes giant crowds and elevated lodging costs so take that under consideration when planning out your journey. Attempt travelling in both March or November if you need the very best of each worlds (good climate with out all the vacationers).
The decision
This may simply be the hardest comparability weblog I’ve needed to write (and declare a winner for). Egypt and Jordan are extraordinary in their very own methods however they each exude magic of the historic type with historical archeological websites more likely to function in your favorite recollections and in your Instagram profiles.
Fortunately, they’re positioned extraordinarily shut to one another so when you didn’t need to select, you would go for one in all Intrepid’s combo journeys. Feels like a win/win to me however when you’re forcing me to determine, I’d go together with Egypt. It’s the pyramids. They get me each time.
